September 4 – Mark 4:41

Mark 4:41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” When Jesus calmed the stormy sea for the disciples, their response was to be terrified! Jesus’ mighty power is available to bring us peace. Are we afraid to be under his command, preferring to storm furiously like the wind and the waves?! Today’s three-by-five... Read More

September 3 – Mark 4:8, 4:28

Mark 4:8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop… Mark 4:28 All by itself the soil produces grain… [Continued from yesterday’s devotion about the parable of the sower in Mark 4:3-8.] How do we become good soil? There must be many ways to view this, but let’s look at it like a parable, taken from life around us: How does real-life... Read More

New Home: The Place of Perfect Marital Bliss

My husband and I have spent hours daydreaming together about our perfect home. These have been fun times for us (the dreaming part of it, not the hard years). I feel a little foolish admitting this, but I was a tiny bit worried that after we moved to our permanent place, we wouldn’t have anything to dream together about anymore. Haha! There was no need for concern! (Click... Read More

September 2 – Mark 4:3-8

Mark 4:3-8 A farmer went out to sow his seed… some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places… they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop… How in the world... Read More

September 1 – Mark 4:1, 4:21

Mark 4:1 The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. Mark 4:21 Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? When Jesus’ teachings brought in a crowd that was overwhelming, Jesus didn’t retreat.... Read More

Houses Past

My husband and I have been married a dozen years now. We’ve moved about six times (depending how you count it). Before I show pictures of our current house, I thought it would be fun to walk down memory lane! The walk turned into an all-day hike, so I’ll give the tour of our current place tomorrow or Friday. Where I Grew Up My parents have lived in the same house for... Read More

August 30 – Numbers 22:23

Numbers 22:23 And the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way and His sword drawn in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field; and Balaam struck the donkey to turn her into the way. I wonder how many times we “strike the donkey,” because we’re too blind to see the Angel of the Lord? What we curse is actually carrying... Read More

August 29 – Luke 18:1, 9

Luke 18:1, 9 Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up….” However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” In between those two sentences is the story of the widow who kept bothering the unjust judge. I knew that story was about praying, but I guess I hadn’t realized that it was... Read More

August 28 – Psalm 12:6, I Peter 1:25

Psalm 12:6 Amp, I Peter 1:25 The words and promises of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times over. The Hebrew word for pure (also translated “tried” in II Sam 22:31 and Psalm 18:30 and “flawless” in the NIV) is a metal-smelting word. Silver ore is melted, and the impurities are separated from the liquid... Read More

August 27 – Proverbs 13:11

Proverbs 13:11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow. I don’t know why this verse is so encouraging to me. It sort of seems like “duh.” But the little-by-little-ness of it is helpful, and not just with money. With time, with parts of a project, with character. Each tiny step forward IS important. It becomes... Read More